Morning journal and courier., 1887-02-08
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.

An Interesting Talk Before the Cham
Der of Commerce by Professor Had.
leY-Treating ofthe Interstate Com.
merce Bill.
Considering the unpleasant weather last
evening there were quite good many, in
Guiding number of ladies, who ventured out
to hear Professor Arthur T. Hadley speak on
the National Railway Legislation," in
LOOMS Temple Of Music, before the Cham
Der of Commerce. Professor Hadley begin
ming by alluding to the infancy of the rail-
road service and the multiplicity of short
lines went on to speak of the great progress
made in railroad consolidation. There has
been an increasing perplexity of railroad
tariff. The tariff rates were at first high, but
never easily understood. They were pro-
Portionally made. A change took place
more favorable to the long distance shipper.
In this perplexity there arose difference
between the shippers. The railroads were
growing larger and more powerful and more
| remote from traffic of local interest. The
| courts tried to control the railroads. 1t was
| thought competition would be regulation
| of railway service. It was unsuccessful.
No one was going to build second rail
| road to meet the grievance of second ship
per. A and had a suspicion that @ was
getting lower rates than they. Take AS
| rate, and it was probably reasonable, but
| when G, who had much longer distance to
send freight, had a rate one-third of AS,
| then there was a discrimination, which was a
growing evil. One of the things of the inter
State commerce bill was to get an equality of
rates. The courts failed to regulate this
evil. In 1878 Judge Reagan first introduced
q bill, which has borne his name, and has
since been constantly before the House. 1t
did NOT m with onnr0uo1 Tho H0uaa W.
too radical and the Senate didn't really know
what it did want. A committee was appoint
ed to investigate the inter State commerce
bill, it's methods and legislation. After a
few months of hard work a good deal of in
formation on it was obtained. One of the
excellent things about it was that it prohib-
tied Individual discrimination, not favoring
one at the expense of another. It was bill
too good to pass the House. Differences arose,
and the old Reagan bill was brought up.
Changes were made in it. Last spring moth
ing was done about the matter at the session
of the Legislature. There seemed to be danger
that nothing would be done at this session.
A conference committee was. appointed with
Senator Cullom and Representative Reagan
as leaders. Finally compromise bill was
made out. That bill passed the Senate last
week. Senator Platt opposed it On an able
speech.
The bill provides for an equality of rates,
tuat Iney SHALL % mace puoilc; ano not KEPT. IN
secret as they now are. This is as it should
be. The Boston and Albany would charge
40 cents a month in contract for a certain
amount of freight from Chicago to Boston,
and then charge a man at Chatham-not half
the distance-just the same. This is il
lustration of the bill on local discrimination,
q now remedied evil.
There is also a prohibition of railroad
pool. The pool has, by no means, ever been
satisfactory, least SO to the railroad com
pany. Pools have been of short-sighted pol
icy. Publicity and responsibility are as inn
portant in this as everything else put to-
gether.
AT the conclusion of the address, which
was of an hours duration, Professor Hadley
was greeted with a round of applause.